Going Greek

By Zara Kavarana, Staff Writer

Is this the kind of “Greek” you imagined before coming to college?/ PHOTO VIA images.buddytv.com

Coming into college is a blank slate.

We find ourselves submerged knee-deep in opportunities – some that stand out academically and some that stand out socially. So many of us want to belong, find our place, meet new people. Greek life is one of the more obvious places to start.

Although college may be new to us, the idea of Greek life isn’t. We’ve seen it on TV, in movies, read about it in books and magazines. These portrayals show being a part of a sorority or fraternity as the ideal college experience, so it wouldn’t be inaccurate to suggest the big impact it may have on someone who is considering joining. It’s almost a sort of encouragement, saying that if you join, you’ll get movie-worthy stories.

Undoubtedly, joining a Greek organization will lend itself to an unforgettable college experience, but are TV shows and movies the main reason why some students choose to join?

After becoming so familiar with sororities and fraternities from multimedia sources, it feels as if participating in Greek life is imperative in order to get the full college experience. Of course, there are many of us who join simply because we want to learn, or to give back, or to meet new people.

On another note, many of the depictions aren’t even real. Like most Hollywood productions, TV portrayals of Greek life are often sensationalized. Which leaves the question: before we even get to college, is our perception of college life influenced by the way TV and movies portray the Greek community?